Ice maker



Sept. 13, 1955 R. D. BARTON ICE MAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1955 :heb [uil I N V EN TOR. aP/f WP/a flTToRNEY Sept. 13, 1955 Filed Feb. 16, 1953 R. D. BARTON ICE MAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEY Sept. 13, 1955 R. D. BARTON ICE MAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 16, 1955 ATTORNEY United States Patent O rca MAKER Ralph D. Barton, Evansville, ind., assigner to Servel, inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Dciaware Application February 16, 1953, Seriai No. 337,043

12 Claims. (Ci. 62-7) This invention relates to automatic making, harvesting, drying, and storing of ice pieces, generally called ice cubes.

This invention may be considered an addition and improvement to the ice maker disclosed and claimed in the copending patent application of Sven W. E. Andersson, Serial No. 205,519, led January 11, 1951.

Brieiiy, the above c-opending Andersson application discloses an ice maker wherein an ice forming mold has a generally arcuate contour so that pieces of ice may be readily turned or swept from the mold by relative turning movement between the mold and the ice pieces. The ice removing action is automatic, as is the filling of the mold, freezing, and loosening of the ice pieces. The ice pieces are detained for thorough drying before discharge to storage. The automatic operation is stopped short of discharge of ice to storage, and remains suspended during the time that a desired quantity of ice pieces is held in storage.

ln the spe-cie structure disclosed in the above Andersson application, power for operating the ice release and the control mechanisms is provided by a hydraulic motor which also measures and delivers a quantity of water to the ice mold for freezing. The hydraulic motor is connected to the ice release mechanism by a force limiter which acts also as a dashpot. The arrangement is such that the hydraulic motor may complete a power stroke even though the release mechanism be stalled by contact with the ice still frozen to the mold. When the ice has been thawed free of the mold, the force limiter operates the release mechanism which, through the dashpot, slowly ejects the ice from the mold. The disclosure of the above Andersson application may be considered a part of this instant application and may be referred to for a detailed description of parts thereof that are common to the two patent applications.

it is an object of this invention to provide an ice maker wherein a power mechanism for removing ice from a mold or other heat exchange element is deenergized upon contact with ice frozen to such element.

it is a further object of this invention to provide an ice maker wherein a means for supplying water to a freezing element also supplies power for removing ice from such element, and wherein said means is energized by the freezing of ice on the element, is temporarily deenergized by ice frozen to the element and is reenergized by the freeing or loosening of ice from the element.

It is a still further and more specific object of this invention to provide an improved ice maker of the type disclosed in the above Andersson patent application wherein certain elements are eliminated without eliminating their function or otherwise sacrificing any of the novel features of such ice maker.

in accordance with this invention, a hydraulic motor, that supplies water to a freezing mold, is connected to an ice release mechanism in a manner that the force limiter of the above Andersson patent application is eliminated, and when the ice release mechanism is stalled Patented Sept. 13, 1955 by Contact with the ice frozen solidly in themold, an inlet valve that supplies water to the` hydraulic motor is automatically closed and remains closed until such time as the ice is thawed free of the mold. That is, the power element for the ice release mechanism is deenergized when such mechanism is stalled by contact with the ice frozen to the mold. Then, when the ice is thawed free of the mold, the water inlet valve is automatically opened and the hydraulic motor completes a power stroke, whereupon the attached release mechanism resumes operation and ejects the ice from the mold. In this manner the ice release mechanism is not subjected to excessive torque, due to high water pressure, when stalled by the ice frozen to the mold. With this arrangement the release mechanism isr compacted and simplified Without sacrificing any of the novel features of the ice maker disclosed in the above Andersson application.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, is set forth in more technical detail in the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective of the principal components of my improved ice maker;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the ice mold, showing one batch of ice being dried while a second batch is freezing;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, showing the ejector mechanism stalled by the ice frozen to the mold;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of the operating mechanism, and a wiring diagram for the controls of the ice maker;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a part of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a top plan, partly in section, of the ice maker.

General description As shown in Figs. l and 8, I have incorporated my ice maker in a household refrigerator 10 having a freezing compartment 11 in the upper portion thereof. Only so much of the refrigerator as is necessary for a complete understanding of this invention is shown in the drawing. The ice maker includes a mold 12 securely mounted on a freezing shelf 13 within the freezing compartment 11 of the refrigerator. A refrigerating coil 14, connected to a suitable refrigerating system not shown, is placed in good thermal contact with the freezing shelf 13. An ejector mechanism 15 is mounted above the ice mold and includes a shaft 16 which projects beyond the` rear of the ice mold. The shaft 16 is connected by a universal coupling 17 to a second shaft 18 which forms a part of a ratchet and pulley mechanism 19 mounted on the rear wail 20 of the refrigerator. An ice receiver or storage receptacle 21 is located in the freezing compartment below the ice mold. A power mechanism and mold filling device is mounted on the rear wall of the refrigerator and includes a hydraulic motor 23 having an iniet water line 24 controlled by a normally closed solenoid valve 25, and an outlet water line 27 controlled by a normally open solenoid valve 29. The inlet water line is connected to a suitable source of Water under pressure, as a city main, and the outlet water line is connected to the ice mold.

Ice mold The ice mold or heat exchange element 12 comprises an aluminum die casting that is adapted to rest upon the freezing shelf 13. The interior of the mold is divided by integral partitions 3) into several compartments each having a generally arcuate contour like a segment of a cylinder. The partitions 30 are tapered from the left to the right side of the mold and are each provided with an upstanding projection 31 at the left side thereof. The ice mold is provided with an upwardly projecting edge 32 on its right side. So thatwater may llow from one compartment to another when filling the mold, the partitions 31 are each provided with a slot or weir 33, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The particular shape and location of the slots 33 is designed to allow the ice to be easily swept out of the mold compartments. Also, these slots provide means for connecting the individual ice pieces into a unit, as will be described below. The inside of the end walls of the mold slant outwardly from left to right.

As shown, particularly in Fig. 8, the ice mold compartments are larger on the right side of the mold than the left side thereof. With this arrangement the ice pieces, once they have been freed from the partitions and mold surfaces, are readily turned in the mold. As will be described below, the ice is guided from the mold by the upwardly projecting edge 32, and the ice comes to rest on top of the ejector mechanism. Later, the ice is guided into the ice receptacle 21 by the upstanding projections 31 on the mold partitions.

The ice mold is provided with an electric heating element 34 located in holes along the bottom longitudinal edges thereof. Another hole or well is provided at the upper right hand side of the mold for the reception of a sensing bulb 35 of a thermostat 36, which thermostat is set to close its contacts at about 12 F. During a freezing cycle the temperature of the mold at the location of the thermostat bulb remains around 32 F., but the temperature drops promptly when the freezing is completed. The closing of the thermostat contacts is utilized for starting an ice ejector cycle.

EjectOr mechanism The ejector mechanism 15 includes the shaft 16 mounted for counterclockwise rotation at its front and rear ends in mounting plates 39 and 46, which mounting plates are attached to the front and rear of the mold, respectively. The shaft 16 has a flat portion 41 on the upper part thereof and is provided with a purality of blades 42, one for each ice mold compartment, at one side thereof. As shown, the ejector shaft is mounted off center relative to the longitudinal axis of the mold, and the blades 42 are at an angle to the hat portion 41 of the shaft.

Ratchet and pulley mechanism The ejector shaft 16-is extended, preferably by a suitable insulating coupling 17, through the insulated rear 'i' wall 2i) of the refrigerator, and it is connected to the pulley shaft 1S. The connection between the two shafts is quite loose, so that the coupling serves both to insulate the shafts and to compensate for any misalignment of ratchet wheel 48, provided with a front flange 49 and a .rear flange 50, is secured by set screws to the shaft 1S.

In the front flange of the ratchet wheel there is a shaped notch 52 which is engaged by one end of a leaf spring 53, the other end of which leaf spring is secured by screws 54 to the U-shaped bracket 46. The primary purpose of the leaf spring is to hold the shaft 16 in normal or inactive position, Fig. 2, following the discharge of ice from the mold. This leaf spring also operates a so-called split contact microswitch 56 which is so mounted adjacent the spring in a manner that the switch contacts are open when the lower or free end of the spring has slipped into the notch 52 on the ratchet wheel. When the lower end of the spring is out of the notch and rides on the ange 49 of the ratchet wheel, it actuates the switch 56 to close its contacts. The switch 56, the function of which will be described below, is contained in an electric junction box 57 mounted alongside the bracket 46.

A notch 58 generally in the shape of a check mark is provided on the rear flange of the ratchet wheel 48. This notch 5S is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 60 pivotally mounted on a freewheeling pulley 62, which pulley is mounted for rotation on the shaft 1S. The pawl 6d is urged into engagement with the notch 58 by a spring 64. The pulley 62 is rotated a trifle more than one revolution in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8, during each ice discharge operation.

- Rotation of the pulley is transmitted to the ejector shaft 16 through the pawl 60, the ratchet wheel 48, the shaft 18 and the coupling 17. By rotating the pulley 62 a trifle more than one revolution, it is assured that upon reverse movement of the pulley following each ice transfer operation, to be described below, the pawl 60 will always pass past the notch 58 in the ratchet wheel, so that the pawl will be in position to engage the notch at the next operation. It is to be noted that the ratchet and pulley mechanism functions as a one-way clutch and converter for converting reciprocating motion of the power mechanism to rotary motion for operating the ejector mechamsm.

Operating mechanism The operating or power mechanism for rotating the free-wheeling pulley 62 is of a hydraulic type that is operated by city water. This mechanism includes the hydraulic motor or cylinder 23 provided with a piston 66 and a piston rod 67. As shown in Fig. 4, the piston is made up of a plurality of parts and is provided with a packing ring 68. The cylinder 23 is provided with an upper head having a water passage 71 therethrough, and a lower head 72 having a plurality of breather openings 73 therein. The lower cylinder head 72 is formed with an integral stud 74 which passes through an opening in a xed bracket 7S, which bracket is mounted on a channel member 76. The channel member is mounted on the rear wall of the refrigerator. A compression spring 77 and a cup-shaped spring retainer 78 are acljustably held on the stud 74 by a nut 79. A rubber cushion Sil is mounted on the stud 74 between the cylinder head 72 and the Xed bracket 75. A switch arm 82, for operating a switch 83 to be referred to in more detail hereinafter, is mounted on the lower portion of the cylinder 23. A return spring S4, anchored at its lower end to a bracket 36, is connected by means of a exible wire cable 88 to the piston rod 67. The flexible cable SS is wrapped around the pulley 62 about 11/2 turns. For reasons described below, the compression spring 77 on the stud 74 is made slightly stronger than the return 'l spring S4.

ice mold 12. So that Water will not be trapped in the tube 90, be frozen therein and block passage therethrough, this tube is made of plastic or other suitable heat insulating material. The tube-90 slants downwardly from the rear and it is made larger than the connecting conduit 27.

Control mechanism In the control mechanism, as shown in Figs. l and 8, there are provided several resilient feelers 94 located in the path of ice pieces discharged from the ejector blades 42 into the storage receptacle 21. These feelers are each '5 provided in its outer end with a conventional mercury switch 95 which is closed when the feeler is in a horizontal position. One or more of the feelers may be deflected downward by ice falling into the storage receptacle, but they normally straighten out again to a more or less horizontal position when the ice has fallen clear. However, as the receptacle 21 becomes lled with ice, additional ice discharged thereinto will not be able to fall clear of the feelers, and one or more of them will be kept deflected downward, so that one or more of the switches 95 will be held open. When this occurs, as described below, no more ice will be discharged into the storage receptacle until some ice has been removed therefrom. The stop switches 95 are connected in series with the mold thermostat 36; the mold heater 34 and the solenoid valves 25 and 29 are connected in parallel; and this' parallel circuit is in series with the stop switches 95 and the mold thermostat 36. The conductors for the heating element 34, the mold thermostat 36, the switch 56., the solenoid valves 2S and 26 and the stop switches 95 are brought together in the electric junction box 57, and they are connected between a pair of supply wires L1 and L2 in the manner shown in Fig. 4.

The stop switches 95 are Vin accordance with the above patent application of Sven W. E. Andersson, Serial No. 205,519, and are included here for purpose of illustration. Other stop mechanism, such for example as a movable vane as disclosed in a copending patent application of Harry C. Shagaloif, Serial No. 325,097, tiled December 10, 1952, may be used with equal facility.

Referring now to the wiring diagram in Fig. 4, when an ice batch has been frozen in the mold and the mold thermostat 36 closes, a circuit is established between the supply wires Ll and L2 through this thermostat, through the normally closed stop switches 95 and through the mold heater 34 which energizes the heater. Also, at this time parallel circuits are established through the water inlet solenoid andthe outlet solenoid 29 whereupon the inlet valve is opened and the outlet valve is closed, which starts an ice ejecting cycle. Shortly after the ice ejecting operation has been started, the leaf spring 53 (Fig. 5) actuates the switch 56 and closes its contacts whereby parallel or holding circuits are established between the supply wires L1 and L2, the mold heater 34, the inlet solenoid 25 and the outlet solenoid 29. When an ice batch slides from the top of the ejector blades 42l and falls down into the storage receptacle 21, one or more of the resilient feelers 94 is deected downward and thereby temporarily opens one or more of the stop switches 95. This, however', does not interrupt movement of the ejector mech anism, because the solenoid valve 25 remains energized due to the parallel circuit formed by the earlier closing of the switch 56. The ice ejecting procedure continues for the same reason even though the thermostat 36 opens due to the heat applied to the mold by thejheating element 34. The switch 56 opens, however, when the ejecting operation has been completed which deenergizes both the solenoid valves 25 and 29 and the heating element 34. The return movement of the pulley 62 and the filling of the ice mold then begins to complete an ice making cycle. In case the ice delivered to the storage receptacle 21 should hold one or more of the stop switches 95 open, due to the receptacle being filled with ice pieces, the transfer procedure is still completed so that a new batch of ice can be frozen in the mold, but it stays there, because now the closing of the thermostat 36 will not complete the circuits through the solenoid valves 25 and 29.

Operation In operation, an ice release procedure is started when the ice is frozen in the mold and the circuit is completed through the mold thermostat switch 36 and through the stop switches 95. This energizes. the mold heater 34 and the water solenoids, closing the solenoid 29 in the outlet line to the mold and opening the inlet water solenoid 25.

This causes water to flow into the cylinder 23 .which forces the piston 66 and attached piston rod 67 downward. This downward movement of the piston rod and attached cable 88 rotates the pulley 62 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 4, (counter-clockwise in Figs. l, 7 and' 8) against the force of the return spring 84. Rotation of the pulley 62 in the direction indicated causes the switch 56 to `close and the pawl 60 to rotate the ratchet wheel 48v and the attached shaft 18, which in turn rotates the ejector shaft 16. The ice on top of the ejector blades 42 is then rst thrown olf and falls into the receiver 21.

After about 180 of rotation of the ejector shaft,. the ejector blades contact and stall on the ice frozen in the mold, as shown in Fig. 3. However, the continued flow of water into the hydraulic cylinder 23 then starts lifting the cylinder relative to the piston and away from the supporting bracket 75. This compresses the spring 77, which spring is somewhat stronger than the return spring 84. This movement of the cylinder and attached arm 82 causes the switch 83 to operate to its open position, interrupting the circuit to the inlet water solenoid only and closingv off the water supply to the hydraulic cylinder. The power element is thus deenergized and the torque applied to the ejector pressing against the ice in the mold is determined by how much strongr the spring 77 is than the return spring 84, and consequently can be limited to any suitable value. This force is relaxed and the ejector is again rotated as soon as the ice is thawed free ofV the mold by the heating element 34. The hydraulic cylinder is then pulled back to its normal position against the stop bracket by the stronger spring 77. This closes the contacts of the switch 83, which again energizes the inlet water solenoid valve 25 and water again flows into the cylinder 23.

As the piston 66 and rod 67 complete the downward movement, the ejector shaft is rotated through the second 180 of rotation and the ice is slowly rotated out of the mold to its position on top of the ejector blades as shown in Fig. 2. The contacts of the cam-operated auxiliary switch 56 are now opened, deenergizing the mold heater and the two water solenoids. This closes the inlet solenoid 25 and opens the outlet solenoid 29. The water in the hydraulic cylinder is then delivered to the ice mold by means of the return spring S4. That is, the return spring S4 then contracts and through the cable 88 and freewheeling pulley 62, draws the piston rod 67 and piston 66 upwardly in the cylinder 23, thereby forcing the measured quantity of water from the cylinder through the passage 71, conduit 28, outlet valve 29, conduit 27, tube and trough 92 into the ice mold 12.

This completes an ice release cycle and brings the ejector mechanism to rest with one batch of ice resting on the ejector blades for drying, while a second batch is being frozen in the mold. When the water in the mold is again frozen, the mold thermostat closes its circuit and a new ejecting cycle is instigated. This procedure continues until such time as the storage receptacle is filled with ice, at which time one or more of the stop switches are held open by the ice pieces and no more ice is discharged into the storage receptacle until some ice has been removed therefrom. During this, dormant period, one batch of ice is held on the ejector ready to be discharged into the storage receptacle and a second batch stands frozen in the mold ready to be ejected therefrom.

It is to be noted that the opening of the switch 83, and consequent deenergizing and closing of the inlet water valve 25 as soon as the ejector blades contact the ice frozen to the mold, relieves the ejector mechanism of any undue strain that might otherwise result from high water pressure. Also, the fact that the compression spring 77 is slightly stronger than the return spring 84, the compression spring tends to draw the cylinder 23 downward and' this in turn tends to rotate the ejector shaft and attached blades even though the inlet water valve is temporarily closed. This results in a saving in electric power supplied to the mold heater, and more important it causes `the ejector mechanism to remove the ice from the mold as soon as the bond between the ice and the mold surfaces is broken. This saves ice, and the amount of water that results from the heating of the mold to free the ice there- .from is so insignificant that it does not interfere with `the proper filling of the mold following the removal of ice therefrom. If, for example, a thermostat is depended upon for reenergizng an ejector mechanism following the thawing of the ice free of the mold, the thermostat may lag with the result that an excess of ice may be melted and the water resulting therefrom may cause the mold to overflow at the next filling operation.

Without further description, it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In an automatic ice maker, an ice mold, means for filling the mold with water to be frozen, means for freezing the water in the mold, means for freeing the ice from the mold, ejector mechanism including power means for ejecting the ice from the mold, and control mechanism for said filling, freeing and ejecting means, said control mechanism including means operable responsive to the freezing of water in the mold for energizing the power means, and means operable responsive to movement of the ejector mechanism into contact with ice frozen to the mold for deeenergizing said power means pending the freeing of the ice from the mold.

2. In an automatic ice maker, an ice mold, means for filling the mold with water to be frozen, means for freezing the water into ice in the mold, means operable responsive to the freezing of water in the mold for ejecting the ice therefrom, and means operable responsive to movement of the ejector means into contact with ice frozen to the mold for deenergizing the ejector means pending the freeing of the ice from the mold and for reenergizng the ejecting means following the freeing of the ice from the mold.

3. In an automatic ice maker, a heat exchange surface for freezing water, means for supplying water to said Surface to be frozen thereon, means for freeing ice from said surface, means including power mechanism for removing ice from proximity of said surface, means operable responsive to the freezing of ice on said surface for energizing said power mechanism, means operable by the power mechanism for deenergizing said mechanism pending the freeing of ice from the heat exchange surface, and means operable responsive to the freeing of ice from said surface for reenergizng said power mechanism.

4. In an automatic ice maker, a heat exchange surface means for supplying water to said surface to be frozen thereon, means for freezing water on said surface, means for freeing ice from said surface, means including power mechanism for removing ice from proximity of said surface, and control mechanism for said water supply means, said freeing means and said power mechanism, said control mechanism including means operable responsive to the freezing of ice on said surface for energizing said water supply means and said ice freeing means, means operable by said water supply means for energizing said power mechanism, means operable by ice frozen to said heat exchange surface for deenergizing said power mechanism and means operable by the freeing of ice from the heat transfer surface for reenergizng the power mechanism.

5` In an automatic ice maker, a heat exchange surface for freezing water, means for freezing water on said surface and means for removing ice from said surface, said removing means including a rotatable element movable into contact with ice on said surface, power mechanism for moving said element into contact with ice on said surface, means operable by movement of said rotatable element into contact with ice on said surface for deenergizing said power mechanism, means for urging said rotatable element into contact with ice on said surface while said power mechanism is deenergized, and means operable responsive to movement of ice relative to said surface for reenergizng said power mechanism.

6. In an automatic ice maker, a heat exchange surface for freezing water, means for freezing water on said surface and means for removing ice from said surface, said removing means including a rotatable element movable into contact with ice on said surface, power mechanism for moving said element into contact with ice on said surface, means operable responsive to the freezing of ice on said surface for energizing said power mechanism, means operable by movement of said rotatable element into contact with ice on said surface for deenergizing said power mechanism, means for urging said rotatable element into Contact with ice on said surface while said power mechanism is deenergized, and means operable responsive to movement of ice relative to said surface for reenergizng said power mechanism.

7. In an automatic ice maker, a heat exchange surface for freezing water, means for supplying water to said surface to be frozen thereon and means for removing ice from said surface, said removing means including an element movable by said Water supply means into contact with ice frozen to said surface, means for interrupting operation of said water supply means upon contact of said movable element with ice frozen to said surface, means for urging said movable element into contact with ice onV said surface while operation of said water supply means is interrupted, and means operable by movement of ice from said surface for resuming operation of said water supply means.

8. In an automatic ice maker, a heat exchange surface for freezing water, means for supplying water to said surface to be frozen thereon, and means operable by said water supply means for removing ice from said surface, said last named means including a rotatable element movable into contact with ice on said surface for removing ice therefrom, means operable by movement of said rotatable element into contact with ice on said surface for interrupting operation of said water supply means while continuing to urge said rotatable element into contact with ice on said surface and means operable responsive to movement of ice relative to said surface for resuming operation of said water supply means.

9. In an automatic ice maker, a receptacle for water to be frozen, means for freezing Water in the receptacle, a conveyor for removing ice from said receptacle, a motor for operating said conveyor, means for energizing said motor, means operative responsive to contact of said conveyor with said ice frozen in the receptacle for deenergizing said motor while the ice is being freed from the receptacle, means for freeing ice from said receptacle, and means operative responsive to the freeing of ice from said receptacle for reenergizng said motor to thereby remove the ice from the receptacle.

l0. In an automatic ice maker, a receptacle having a heat exchange surface, means for freezing water on the heat exchange surface, means for removing ice from the heat exchange surface, means for energizing the ice removal means, means operative responsive to the frozen bond between the ice and the heat exchange surface upon contact of the removal means with the ice for deenergizing the ice removal means while the frozen bond is being broken, means for breaking the bond between the ice and the heat exchange surface, and means operative responsive to the breaking of such bond for reenergizing the ice removal means to thereby remove the ice from the heat exchange surface.

l1. In an automatic ice maker, an ice mold, means for filling the mold with water to be frozen. means for freezing the water into ice, conveyor mechanism for removing the ice from the mold, means operable responsive to the formation of ice in the mold for energizing the conveyor mechanism, means for deenergizing the conveyor mechanism upon Contact with ice bonded to the mold, means for breaking the bond between the ice and the mold, and means operable responsive to the breaking of such bond for reenergizing the conveyor mechanism.

12. In an automatic ice maker, an ice mold, means for filling said ice mold with water to be frozen, means for freezing the water in the mold, an ejector mechanism for conveying the frozen contents from the mold, said ejector mechanism including a rotatable shaft having a member thereon movable into and out of the mold, a motor for rotating said shaft, means operable responsive to the formation of ice in said mold for energizing said motor, means associated with said motor for temporarily stopping l0 the motor upon contact of said member with ice frozen in the mold, means for freeing the ice from the mold, and means operable responsive to the freeing of the ice from the rnold for re-starting said motor whereby the ice is conveyed from the mold.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,142,223 Andrews June 8, 1915 1,660,720 Osborne Feb. 28, 1928 1,828,860 Conklin Oct. 27, 1931 1,877,161 Conklin Sept. 13, 1932 2,026,227 Foraker Dec. 31, 1935 2,161,321 Smith .Tune 6, 1939 2,259,066 Gaston Oct. 14, 1941 

